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Like it or not, BMW will be launching a new mid-size hatch with the form factor something along the lines of a smaller 5-Series Gran Turismo.

Whether it will be called the 3-Series Gran Turismo or come as a new model, remains unclear. Whatever it's called, this is what it will look like.

Two completely undisguised versions were spotted in the U.S. during a recent photo shoot for the car, and they will be making their official world debut soon, most likely as 2013 models.

The version in brown is a regular model, while the silver one has been fitted with a planned M Sport Package.

From the spy shots, we can see that the 3-Series GT is sporting the latest in BMW design cues. Some key elements include a more pronounced grille, headlights that blend into the grille, accented intake surrounds and new vender vents shaped like a reversed number seven.

Many of these elements will also be appearing on the upcoming 4-Series Coupe and 4-Series Convertible, the respective replacements for the 3-Series coupe and convertible models. The elements were first previewed on BMW’s Active Tourer Concept at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, a concept that will also spawn a smaller 1-Series GT.

At the rear, we can clearly see an additional line running across the hatch just above the BMW roundel and a "GT" badge. This is for an adjustable rear spoiler that rises out at high-speeds, which means the 3-Series GT won't feature a two-tier hatch design like its bigger brother.

The previous interior spy shots reveal the cabin’s design will stick close to the 3-Series sedan's themes. We're also expecting an updated navigation system, a revised menu for the iDrive interface and more voice-activated controls as part of BMW's expanding ConnectedDrive technology portfolio

The vehicle rides on a slightly longer version of the platform underpinning the latest BMW 3-Series, which means it should be powered by the same slate of engines as well. This equates to a 240-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo four in a base 328i GT and a 300-horsepower 3.0-liter turbo straight-six in the 335i GT. An xDrive all-wheel-drive system will likely be an option.

BMW hasn’t announced whether the 3-Series GT will be sold in the U.S., though given the fact that it’s being photographed here strongly suggests it will be.

Look for a debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in March. While you await its reveal, be sure to watch our previous spy video of a prototype at the Nürburgring race track in Germany. 

Articles Source : motorauthority

It seems that the image of the new BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo we posted yesterday was legit, as it is included in a fresh batch of official pictures that somehow, found their way out of Munich and onto the web.

Following the example of the 5-Series GT, which started this trend for BMW, the 3-Series GT is a five-door liftback version of the brand's compact luxury saloon aimed at buyers who want a more practical variant of the 3-Series and, for some reason, won’t settle with the Touring estate.

Anyways, the 3-Series GT adopts the two-piece tailgate design that debuted in the 5 GT, admittedly managing to make it look less ungainly. According to info from British publication Autocar, the changes made by BMW's designers and engineers are more than skin-deep.

That’s because the GT is around 200 mm longer than the 3-Series Touring on which it is based, with 110 mm of that increase being accounted for by the stretched wheelbase. It’s also around 80 mm taller and 20 mm wider measuring 1,510 and 1,830 mm in height and width respectively and its 520-lt trunk is 20 lt larger than the Touring’s (with the rear seats up).

The bigger dimensions will offer a more spacious cabin. According to insider info, the rear-seat passengers will have as much as 70 mm extra legroom at their disposal, while the driving position has been elevated by 60 mm to increase visibility.

Although we’ll have to wait for the official announcement for the full engine line-up, we anticipate that it will mirror that of the existing 3-Series versions with a wide range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines combined with six-speed manual or 8-speed auto transmissions and rear- or all-wheel drive.

Articles Source : Carscoop